These chapters show us the defining event in the life of Abraham.

Genesis 18 & 19 give us to contrasts of how to respond when God visits - Abraham (18) and the people of Sodom & Gomorrah (19). Amazingly, Jesus says that some of the people of his day are more hard hearted than the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Fearing that God is not going to act in giving Abram descendants, Sarai & Abram decide to give God a helping hand ... with disasterous consequences.

Abram and Lot are forced to part ways because they now have so much livestock. Lot chooses to move to Sodom. Abram chooses to move into the land God has promised to give him.

Genesis 1-11 shows us a world that repeatedly turns away from God. God's plan to fix our problem begins with Abram ... and culminates with Jesus.

With these final 3 petitions Jesus again wants us to pray for big things. He wants us to recognise our dependence on God, the importance of us being forgiving people and livingly godly lives for the same of God's name.

For many people the words of the Lord's Prayer are simply words to be recited from memory ... not really any throught is given to what they are praying. But Jesus is asking for us to pray for some radical changes to happen in our world and in our lives.

Before giving his disciples the model prayer he tells them how NOT to pray: Not like hypocrites and not like pagans.

The genealogy at the end of the book of Ruth is where the whole story has been heading. God's kindness to Ruth, Naomi and us is seen iin the gift of a King who will lead God's people.

God's kindness to each of the characters in this story through family relationships. Family is how God has us wired as the people he made.